Appellate Court Justice James Donovan To Retire

MOUNT VERNON, Ill. (AP) - A justice with the state's 5th District Appellate Court in southern Illinois says he'll be retiring after more than a decade on the bench. Fifty-nine-year-old James Donovan announced Friday that his retirement from the court covering 37 counties will take effect in December of next year. Donovan says he's announcing his plans to retire more than a year in advance so potential successors can run in next year's primary election. He was assigned to the court in 2002 and was elected two years later. He previously had served as an assistant state's attorney and public defender in St. Clair County, and as an associate and circuit judge in the 20th judicial circuit.  ucngq

Fire Marshal Office Urges Safety When Going to Haunted Houses

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Illinois fire safety experts are urging families to be vigilant when they go to temporary haunted houses this Halloween season. The Office of the Illinois state Fire Marshal says it's important for haunted house operators to follow the state's fire safety code requirements. The fire marshal advises that haunted houses should have adequate room for visitors to exit. There also must be panic hardware on exit doors. Haunted houses are considered "special amusement buildings" and must obey state rules for fire sprinklers and detection equipment. Materials in haunted houses must be flame resistant and shouldn't use pyrotechnics unless the operator has specific licenses. More information is available online: http://www.sfm.illinois.gov   nYm70

Marion County Police Beat for Saturday, October 22nd, 2011

Wamac Police have arrested two people in connection with the theft of copper from the Canadian National Rail Car building that is in the process of being torn down. 19-year-old Cody Matson of James Street in Wamac and 18-year-old Brittany Atchison of South Sycamore in Centralia are both being held in the Marion County Jail for alleged burglary, criminal trespass and criminal damage to property. Wamac Police say the two were tied to the theft when they allegedly tried to sell the copper that had been taken. 38-year-old Michael Mitchan of East Third Street in Centralia was arrested by Centralia Police for violation of an order of protection. 26-year-old Christopher Short of South Broadway in Salem was arrested by Marion County Sheriff's Deputies for a probation violation. 29-year-old Sabrina Hoercher of College Street in Mt. Vernon was arrested by sheriff's deputies on a petition to revoke her probation.  nQu55

Jefferson County Toys for Kids announces dates

Toys for Kids of Jefferson County have announced registration dates and times and put out a call for volunteers.

“This year we’re going to have the Headquarters at the mall open more,” TFK President Jill Holloway said. “All the registrations will be at the mall. ... In the past, we’ve had registration three days for four hours at (a local church) and then three or four eight-hour days at Headquarters. This way, the public has more chance to register or drop off donations at the mall.”

Registration dates will be Oct. 27 from 4 to 7 p.m.; Oct. 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Nov. 1 from 9 to 11 a.m.; Nov. 5 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Nov. 7 from 4 to 7 p.m.; Nov. 8 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Nov. 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; Nov. 17 from 4 to 7 p.m.; Nov. 21 from 4 to 7 p.m.; Nov. 22 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Nov. 25 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and Nov. 26 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Holloway said last year the group provided Christmas presents for 1,000 children.

“We expect more kids this year,” Holloway said. “There is a definite need for money and toys. Our older kids, from 7 to 14 years-old, are where we are lacking. People don’t donate for the older group as much.”

This year TFK will also have Christmas trees set up at local participating businesses and customers can pick up a card on the tree and purchase the item listed on the card decoration.

“We have already confirmed a tree for Big Lots and Shoe Sensation,” Holloway said. “We hope more businesses will confirm that we can put a tree up. We make sure there are some items on the tree that can be picked up at that business to make it easier on the person making the donation.”

In addition to making donations at the mall at Headquarters, Holloway said donations can still be dropped off at Curves in Mt. Vernon.

The Continental Tire North America Toy Run for Toys for Kids will be held Nov. 5, Holloway said, with participants leaving CTA at about 11 a.m. and bringing donations to Times Square Mall.

Volunteers are still needed for Toys for Kids, with Holloway making dire predictions for what will happen next year if more people don’t step forward.

“Volunteers are way down,” Holloway said. “If people want to volunteer, they can call me at 641-1178 or come by Headquarters and talk to us. If we don’t get more help, I don’t know if there will be a next year for us.”  WFTQW